THE OFFICE: Lecture Circuit (Part I)

Attention Dwight Schurte and Jim Halpert – my birthday is March 21st. That gives you over a full month to plan my party. My chocolate ice cream cake better be covered in 24 candles (one for each year of my life) and my orange and purple balloons best be fully inflated. Got it? Good.

Last night’s episode of THE OFFICE had a great mix of cringeworthy moments and old school office antics, which made for a very fun episode – one of the stronger ones this season in my opinion. For the most part the humor in last night’s episode came from the Dunder Mifflinites playing off each other. Whether it was Stanley, Andy and Creed coming together to land Andy his new m’lady; Jim and Dwight trying to make right by Kelly; or Pam and Michael teaming up on their road trip, it all, for the most part, just worked.

I’m actually happy that we’re going to see more of these storylines play out in next week’s episode. I’m not holding my breath for the appearance of Holly in Nashua, but you never know.

Pam knows how to handle Michael better than anyone in the office, and that man needs to be handled. But Pam has a level of affection for Michael that is akin to a mother caring for a really annoying and inappropriate child. The scene in the car when they were discussing whether or not Pam could put on the music was especially stellar as it was well acted, well paced, and completely in character. More road trip fun with Michael and Pam next week. YAY!

As great as the scenes with Michael and Pam were, you throw Karen into the mix and it becomes all kind of uncomfortable…in the best possible way. From the pregnancy jokes, to questioning Karen on her sex life, to the mnemonic devices (how Michael managed to use the word “mnemonic” is beyond me) – it all had my cracking up. Ok maybe the fake dead father phone call didn’t, but the rest was all quite amusing.

I was really excited for the return of Rashida Jones (oh how far I’ve come). Despite how much many of us wanted her to just disappear back in Season 3, Karen really got the short end of the stick. She did what most of all of us girls have done…she fell for Jim Halpert. Can we blame her for wanting to keep him? She was left by a fountain, hours from home while her boyfriend went off to find the woman he really loved. As happy as I was about the Jim and Pam reunion, there was a part of me that always felt a little bad for Karen. I like that she’s happily married, with a baby on the way – even if her new husband did look a little like Jim.

Michael, of course, made the reunion about as uncomfortable as he could. He insulted in Karen in every way possible, but I kind of loved that Karen knew Michael enough to shrug it off with a roll of her eyes. The somewhat awkward hug that she and Pam shared was sweet, and almost a little sad as that was probably the end of Karen Fillipelli. Bye Rashida…see you on Parks & Recreation in April!

Back in the office….

Andy had a rather lame storyline about trying to get with one of Stanley’s clients (whom I mistook for his daughter at first). But it did lend itself to some great Andy/Creed interaction – which we definitely don’t have enough of. And I’m glad that Stanley is getting more screen time as of late, he’s a great character. Jim and Pam get the credit for being the “normal” ones in the office, but I think Stanley has them beat. He’s above all the nonsense, while Jim and Pam ofter get caught up in all of it.

Jim and Dwight as the heads of the Party Planning Committee cracked me up. Dwight being Dwight is naturally not a good fit for the role, and Jim has already proven that he’s not good at the whole office birthday thing. But I love when Jim and Dwight are forced to work together because despite how opposite they pretend to be, they have more in common than either would like to admit.

Jim and Dwight better be watching their backs 24/7. Last time the two of them crossed Kelly Kapoor there was a major fallout that could have cost them their jobs. You would have thought they would have learned by now. Tsk tsk tsk boys.

Other favorite moments…

Jim and his trusty scissors save the day once again. First it was Dwight’s bouncy ball chair and now Michael’s intercom. Thank you, Jim.

Michael: Shirty. Mole. Lazy eye. Mexico. Baldy. Sugarboobs. Black woman. I have taken a unique part of who you are and I have used that to memorize your names. Baldy. Your head is bald. It is hairless. It is shiny. It is reflective, like a mirror. M. Your name is Mark. It works!

Pam: Perfect boobs. Of course I remember Holly

Jim: It is your birthday, period.
Dwight: It’s a statement of fact.
Jim: Not even an exclamation point?
Dwight: This is more professional. It’s not like she discovered a cure for cancer.

Dwight: Are you trying to hurt my feelings? Because if you are then you are succeeding. Fortunately my feelings regenerate at twice the speed of a normal mans.

Creed (to Andy): Have I ever steered you wrong, Jim?

Thoughts on last night’s episode? Love it or leave it? Was anyone else as excited as I was to see the return of Rashida? What could Kelly possibly been in juvee for? Did she physcially hurt someone when they forgot her birthday, perhaps? Will the Dwight/Angela/Andy storyline ever be addressed? So much to discuss.

Comments

14 Responses to “THE OFFICE: Lecture Circuit (Part I)”

Lisa (aka lmr) on
February 6th, 2009 2:00 pm

Okay, I’m way over Karen F. Reliving old memories here but when she asked and Jim answered that he still had feelings for Pam, Karen should have just chalked it up to ‘he’s not that into me’ – so no, no feeling sorry for her. She tried at every turn to keep JAM apart for which unspeakable act I shall not forgive … not now, not ever.

TheOfficeMattress on
February 6th, 2009 2:29 pm

I loved this episode, it did feel very much “Old” Office. Dwight and Jim were priceless, I loved the whole interaction and I love that Jim sucks at planning birthdays for his coworkers. The balloons were just ridiculously funny, just the sight of them made me laugh!

Pam and Michael were great of course, I think Pam may be the best person to handle Michael, she almost has a motherly authority over him.

I did enjoy seeing Karen again, It did seem too bad that the whole Jim thing had to become between Pam and Karen, b/c I betcha those two would be best friends.

As a whole, I really loved this episode!

Becky on
February 6th, 2009 3:04 pm

I loved the whole Dwight/Jim dynamic in this episode. Anytime they have to work together, i love it! Hey, my birthday is march 22, maybe jim and dwight can plan a joint party. I can not wait to watch the second half next week!

My favorite part of the episode was the fact that Pam was still making Michael sit in the back seat. Remember the Diwalii episode from S-3? I love those small details they add for all us hardcore fans. That seriously made me crack up!

jess on
February 6th, 2009 4:29 pm

I thought I was the only one who thought that was Stanley’s daughter, && I also thought I was the only one who thought her husband looked like Jim…

Gotta love the return of Jim’s scissors, in his back pocket ;]

Billiam on
February 6th, 2009 4:37 pm

Personally, I thought we had a little too much “bad Michael” in this episode, and Andy’s plot also veered into the “cringe-inducingly awkward” category. But both plots had their moments, and the Jim/Dwight plot was quite good.

I wouldn’t name it as “one of the strong episodes” of the season, though I also had no problems with some of this season’s earlier episodes that Kath and others complained about, so I guess my tastes are just a bit different.

Teresa on
February 6th, 2009 5:29 pm

It wasn’t my favorite episode of the season so far, but it was still pretty good. Michael’s mnemonic devices were really funny. I also loved the cold open. I’m excited to see how the rest of the episode plays out next week.

I thought it was Stanley’s daughter too… and that Karen’s husband looked like Jim. You are not alone! LOL!

Jessica on
February 6th, 2009 5:45 pm

I loved this episode! Although, I think I might have been influenced by Miss Jenna Fischer though. She said it was her favorite episode of the season on her Myspace blog! I love her and Michael together. I enjoyed seeing Rashida Jones again and wrapping up that storyline. I am excited for Parks and Recreation- I hope it lives up to all of our expectations. Jim and Dwight working together = Awesomenesss!! I love this show!!

Angela on
February 6th, 2009 5:51 pm

I need to watch this episode again. I think I was too tired to enjoy it fully last night, but there was still a lot of funny. I wasn’t too much of a fan of the Andy storyline, which is probably why I was feeling a little down on the rest of the episode. I’m guessing this is the “C” plot that would have been cut if this wasn’t turned into a two-parter. But I loved the return of the Pam we all know, love, and sorely missed. If anyone can win over Al-Qaeda, it would be Pam Beesly! And I’m extremely glad they ended Karen’s story on a positive and sweet note. Even though Pam got the man, it’s nice to know she feels somewhat guilty about the fact that Karen, who was her friend for at least a little bit, got hurt.

Laila on
February 6th, 2009 6:16 pm

No love for the Creed gag at the end? Best part of the episode.

janet on
February 6th, 2009 7:24 pm

I don’t understand all the Karen hate. I’ve loved her…always. As for Jim and Dwight? Comic gold!!

Amanda on
February 7th, 2009 7:33 pm

Yay…the good Old Office was back. Things had been getting too cringe worthy and not enough funny. I loved it. The Jim-Dwight dichotomy, the rest of the office hijinks (Stanley, Andy, Creed), Michael being so Michael and Pam putting up with it in her Pam way… all seem to lead back to the first couple of seasons. Can’t wait for next week’s episode.
I’m such a sappy romantic…I really want Michael and Holly back together! I thought they were just perfect for each other!
Also, I really saw the desperation in Andy and it endeared me to him. The whole kiss thing was creepy, but that was Creed’s fault! You’ll find your love, Nard-dog!

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